Method of making signs



June 27, 1933. s. F. ARBUcK| E ET AL 1,915,642

-METHOD oF MAKING SIGNS Filed May 28, i930 y E /5 l 7' lNvEN'roR ATTORNEYS.

/5 E, 5. M4N

y Patented June 27, 1933 tion with the UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE SAMUEL P. ARBUORLE AND GUY 1I. COULTER, OP HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN,

AssIGNoRs mo s. P. ARRUGKLE CORPORATION, A coRPORA'rIoNOI` DELAWARE METHOD F MAKING SIGNS Application mea may 2s,

This invention relates to the method of making signs.

rlihe main objects of this invention are to provide an improved method of manufacturing sheet metal signs particularly useful .for vehicle licenseplates, highway v Warnmg markers, and the like; to provide an improved method of manufacturing a sign havingindicia thereon which is of the reflex or light reflecting type, and to provide a method which will fit into a quantity production program so that no operation will delay or hold up the other quantity production operations.

'I'hs improved method of manufacturing is particularly suitable to making of the sheet metal license plates disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 456,- 786, filed May 28, 1930, to which reference is hereby made for the purpose of showing a specific embodiment of the product made by the improved method herein set forth.-

Other objects and features of novelty of my 'invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring. for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjuncaccompanying ,dra-wing,

' wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an element in the nature of a sign embodying features of my invention, and Figs. 2 to nclusive are enlarged sectional views ofthe structure shown in Fig. 1, i1lustrating the application of different coatings to the elementin accordance with my present method. h

In the carrying out of my improved meth- 0d a piece of metal is ground and polished over that portion of a plate in which rwill be formed the numerals or other indicia .11, for the reason that this may be more easily and rapidly done at this time than after the indicia are formed.

The indicia are then formed in the plate,l vafter which it is cleaned, goes through a copering solution, then through an automatic uiiing machine and is then colored and buied in two directions, then through the nickel, thenr automatically bufedl and colored, then 1930. serial No. 456,787.

through the chromium, all Of which may be done on an automatic conveyor system timed wlth the speed at which the plates go through the paint and into the ovens.

The indicia are then printed with a mate-l rial 12 which will prevent the adhesion of enamel or other siccative coating 13, after which the plate is placed on the conveyor for painting and goes automatically from the paint to the oven. After coming out of the oven, the paint may be wiped off with a cloth from the indicia, or preferably, it may go directly from the oven into hot water of approximately the same temperature as the plate and forced by conveyor between bristle brushes, which in one operation removes the paint from the polished indicia and removes all traces of the material 12 and paint so removed from the other surfaces of the plate. Then the plate, which tends to dry quickly on account of being hot, may have water blown from its surface by compressed air and be dry forpacking.

This process has the advantage of enabling the, paint to be removed from the indicia Without the use of abrasive Wheels or solvents, saving these Operations, even though the latter were practical andpossible.

If spraying is used for applying the enamel, the paint used on the rear side of the plate may be saved as the plate is already rust-proofed in the plating process, and in the event of either sprayingor dipping lfor the painting, the operation of printing the top of the indicia with ink as is the present practice is eliminated and hours of time for baking this are saved and the operation of the final varnishing of the plate to protect these printed numerals is also eliminated and the subsequent time for baking`and dry ing is saved, due to the fact that the polished plated indicia needs no further treatment to insure its permanency.

If an indicia upon the signs is formed 'as shown in my above-mentioned co-pending applications, the tops of the semi-frusto-pyramids may be .coated with paint or enamel 1s o that the indiciaI stands out in dotted outine.

The fact that these semi-frusto-pyramids tion of the sheet metal,lforming indiciafupon are equally distant and the valleys between them run in only two directions make it possible to use a felt wheel with an abrasive for grinding these if necessary. If the plates are run under the wheel in exactly the same position every time, grooves will be formed in the wheel a depth equal to the height of the pyramids, therefore allowing the grinding or buiiing surface of the wheel, whichever is being used, to bear evenly upon alll of the polished surface and Vnot remove the peaks of the deformations. y

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, I have shown the method of painting the surface of the indicia, wherein the indicia have flat surfaces, which method is also employed for painting the frusto-pyramidal surfaces as above mentioned. Upon' the hardened coating 13 the material 12 is placed and a layer of paint 14: which will ordinarily be different in texture or color from the coating 13, disposed on/the plate 10 by spraying, dipping, brushing or the like. T hereafter a drying and a washing operation cleans the plate and the surfaces of the indicia are painted with a diferent' paint fromV that applied to the background. Although but one specific method has been herein disclosed, it will be understood that numerous details may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.v

I claim:

1. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises polishing the sheet metal to remove scratches and similar deects, embossing indicia upon the polished portion, coating the indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siccative coating to the sign and then removing-the siccative coating from the indicia. f v. 2. The method ofmaking a sheet metal sign' which comprises the polishing ofthe sheet metal,- forming indicia thereon, platlng and polishing the indicia to produce a refiecting surface, 'coating the indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying ajsiccative c oatingr to the sign and then removing'th siccative coating from the indicia.

3. The methodgof making a sheet metal f sign ywhich comprises the polishing of: the sheetmetal, embossing indicia theifeon,plat ing-andpolishing the indicia to-produce a `reiiecting surface, coating the indiciay with a materialiwhich will 'prevent the adhesion of a. siccative coating, applying 'a siccative coating to the sign and then removing-,the siccative coating from the indicia.

4. The method of making a sheet' metal sign which comprises the polishing ofa' porthe polished portion, plating and polishing the indicia to produce aretlectingsurfa'cc, coating the indicia with 'agmaterial which I cative coatingto portions only o 10. The method of making a'sheet metal will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siccative coating to the sign and then removing the siccative' coating from the indicia.

5. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises the polishing of the sheet metal, forming indicia thereon, plating and polishing the indicia to produce a re-. fleeting surface, coating the indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siccative coating to the sign, and subjecting the sign to heat for drying the siccative coating.

6. The method ofmaking a sheet metal sign which comprises the polishing of the sheet metal, forming .indicia thereon, coating the indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siccative coating to the si n, removing the siccative coatin from t e 1ndicia, and then applying a siccative coating to portions of the indicia.

7. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises the po ishing of a portion of the sheet metal, forming indicia upon the polished portion, coating the indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of, a siccative coating, applying a siccative coatingr to the sign, removing the siccative coating from the indicia, and then applying a siccative coating to portions of the indicia.

8. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises the polishing of the sheet metal, forming indicia thereon, coating thel indicia with a material which will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applyinga siccative coatingto the sign, su

jecting the sign to heat for drying the siccati've coating, and then applying a siccative coating to portions only of the indicia.

9. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises the polishing ofthe sheet metal, forming indicia thereon, plating and polishing the indicia to roduce 4a reflectingsurface, coating they in icia with a material'whichy will prevent the adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siccative coating to the sign, removing the siccative coating from the indicia, and then'ap lying a sic- `Sign whichA comprises the polishing ,of 'the sheet metal, forming indicia thereon, ycoating fthe indicia with a material which will prevent theadhesion of a siccative coating, a

fply'ing va siccative coating to the sign, was' lingand scrubbing the signto remove the siccative coating from 'the indicia, and then'a plying a siccative coating to portions on y lof the indicia. i

A11. The method ofmakingA ashe'et metal signwhich comprises forming indicia therelon vhaving a fplura'lity of reflecting surfaces ldisposed 1n luniform rowsat varying predevthe indicia.

termined angles, coating the indicia withv a.4

material which willprevent adhesion of a siccative coating, applying a siecative coating to the sign, and then removing the coating and material from the indicia.

l2. The method of making a sheet metal sign which comprises forming indicia thereon havlng'a plurality of refiectin surfaces on each of said 1nd1c1um, coatmg t e indicia the indicia.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE.

GUY H. COULTER. 

